Timeless Bonds : Dhruv Tara × Arjun

15. The Forest

Sonabari village

At the makeshift ETF base near the village, the team was discussing further strategy after Tara left for the recon mission.

"Sir," Ramesh said, "the backup team from Silvassa is here. And I also gathered some information about the missing doctor. This is his ID-card. He works at Sanjeevani Hospital. Dr. Dhruv Saxena."

Arjun looks at the ID, narrowing his eyes at the picture. "It's the same doctor who treated Tara during the OD case. This can't be good."

"Why?" Sameer shrugged. "Just because he treated Tara doesn't mean anything. She knows what she's supposed to do, Arjun. Trust me, she will execute her task perfectly."

Arjun shook his head. "No, Sam, it's different. She likes him, possibly a crush even and she will make the mistake I warned her not to."

"Come on Arjun, you know she's a professional. She knows the risks involved. She will not go against our orders. Not for a stupid crush."

"She's my sister, Sam. I know her. This is going to be messed up. We need to move in and stop before it gets worse." Arjun picked up his gun.

"Arjun!" Sameer placed a hand on his shoulder. "She's gone for a recon. We don't know anything about the location of the camp, the number of people involved, what ammo they have, nothing is known. And we cannot go in there without this information." He put the gun aside. "And I trust Tara to do her job properly. The moment she brings in the intel, we will strategize, go ahead with the raid and end this mission before they can do any harm. For now, let's wait and prepare ourselves."

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Sometime later, as everyone was busy preparing for the raid and shootout with necessary gear, Sameer walked up to Arjun, out of everyone's earshot.

"Arjun," he voiced quietly, "did you get Tara to sign the paperwork?"

"No, she is still refusing to go forth with the case. I have tried explaining and everything else, even screamed at her but she is not budging. I don't understand why she is hesitant. It's not like things would go public. Cases like these are handled with utmost privacy. She knows it too. And yet-" he sighed. "It's beyond me. I don't know how to make her listen."

"Then let's just put the case through on her behalf. You can do that." Sameer adjusted the ammunition on the vest.

"But if she's against it, so strongly, I feel like there is a reason for it. She just doesn't want to share that reason." Arjun counted the bullets, placing them separately.

"I even tried talking to Pratap, to know if there's something they haven't told us." Sameer perched on the table. "When she said I've done a lot of things be specific, does it mean she has done something illegal and doesn't want it to be found, which may come up if the case goes for a trial?"

"Honestly," Arjun breathed out, "I feel that she wouldn't have not hit Pratap, I mean not even once? Like she knows how to get away from that situation, I don't buy it. I don't buy her reason for not telling us or not leaving him before."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know." Arjun sighed. "I mean the girl who slapped her classmate for upskirting her when she was 16, why would she accept abuse from Pratap? I know emotional abuse is difficult to counter when you are in that situation but physical abuse? She let him hurt her, I know it. It feels like she willingly accepted his abuse."

"Damn it, Arjun?" Sameer widened his eyes. "Where did you come up with this groundbreaking theory? It's bullshit. The girl who always talks about justice, equality and feminism is going to accept abuse willingly? It doesn't make sense."